Alabama will open without RB Mark Ingram

Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said the junior running back hurt his left knee in practice Monday.

"It was a situation where everyone involved thought it would be better to take care of it now so he would not have any issues with it later," Saban said.

Saban said Ingram will be monitored carefully on a week-to-week basis. The top-ranked Tide host Penn State on Sept. 11.

"This is not an injury that will affect Mark's future ability to make a full recovery," Saban added.

Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner last year as a sophomore while helping the Crimson Tide win the national title. He set the school rushing record with 1,658 yards, caught 32 passes for 334 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

Sophomore Trent Richardson is expected to get the bulk of the workload Saturday against San Jose State.